How do you use "Pay through the nose" in a sentence?

We paid through the nose for those front-row seats. If you don't have insurance, you'll pay through the nose for that procedure. They make you pay through the nose for parking at the airport.

Pay through the nose

Q: What does "Pay through the nose" mean?

To pay an excessively high price for something. 'Paying through the nose' means being overcharged or having to pay way more than something is worth. It implies the price is unreasonable and painful. Americans use it for everything from healthcare bills to concert tickets.

American Slang Term American ★★★★☆ Common informal

Practice this with flashcards, quizzes & audio on WordLoci →

Meaning: To pay an excessively high price for something.

为某样东西付出过高的价格；被宰。

Pagar un precio excesivamente alto por algo.

法外な値段を払うこと。ぼったくり価格で買うこと。

무언가에 터무니없이 비싼 값을 치르다.

'Paying through the nose' means being overcharged or having to pay way more than something is worth. It implies the price is unreasonable and painful. Americans use it for everything from healthcare bills to concert tickets.

'Paying through the nose'意为被收了过高的价格，或者不得不付出远超物品实际价值的钱。这暗示价格不合理且让人肉疼。美国人常用它来形容从医疗账单到演唱会门票的各种高价消费。

'Paying through the nose' significa que te cobran de más o que tienes que pagar mucho más de lo que algo vale. Implica que el precio es abusivo y doloroso. Los estadounidenses lo usan para todo, desde facturas médicas hasta entradas de conciertos.

「pay through the nose」は、ぼったくられること、あるいは物の価値よりはるかに高い金額を払わされることを意味する。価格が不当で痛みを伴うことを示唆する。アメリカ人は医療費からコンサートチケットまであらゆるものに対して使う。

'코로 돈을 내다(paying through the nose)'는 바가지를 쓰거나 가치보다 훨씬 많이 지불해야 하는 것을 뜻한다. 가격이 불합리하고 고통스럽다는 것을 암시한다. 미국인들은 의료비부터 콘서트 티켓까지 모든 것에 이 표현을 쓴다.

Examples

We paid through the nose for those front-row seats.
那几张前排座位的票我们花了天价。
Pagamos un ojo de la cara (paid through the nose) por esos asientos de primera fila.
最前列の席にとんでもない金額を払った。
맨 앞줄 좌석에 엄청난 돈을 냈어.
If you don't have insurance, you'll pay through the nose for that procedure.
如果没有保险，那个手术你得花一大笔冤枉钱。
Si no tienes seguro, vas a pagar un dineral por ese tratamiento.
保険に入っていなければ、その治療にべらぼうな額を払うことになるよ。
보험이 없으면 그 시술에 코가 빠지게 비싼 돈을 내야 할 거야.
They make you pay through the nose for parking at the airport.
机场的停车费简直是在抢钱。
Te cobran un riñón por aparcar en el aeropuerto.
空港の駐車場では法外な料金を取られる。
공항 주차장에서 바가지 요금을 물려.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: complaining, consumer culture, everyday conversation

Tone: frustrated, indignant

✓ Do Say

They make you pay through the nose.
他们收费简直是宰人。
Te hacen pagar un dineral (They make you pay through the nose).
あそこはぼったくり価格だよ。
거기서 바가지를 씌워.
We paid through the nose for that hotel.
那家酒店我们被狠狠宰了一刀。
Pagamos un ojo de la cara por ese hotel (We paid through the nose for that hotel).
あのホテルには法外な金額を払った。
그 호텔에 엄청난 돈을 냈어.

✗ Don't Say

Use for genuine overcharging — too dramatic for minor price differences
用于真正被宰的情况——价格差异不大时用这个词就太夸张了
Úsalo cuando realmente te hayan cobrado de más — resulta demasiado dramático para diferencias de precio menores
本当にぼったくられた時に使う——わずかな価格差には大げさすぎる
진짜 바가지를 쓸 때 사용하라 — 사소한 가격 차이에 쓰기엔 과장된 표현이다

Origin & History

One theory traces it to a Norse tax imposed in Ireland in the 9th century — those who couldn't pay had their noses slit. Another suggests it comes from 'rhinoceros' (rhino = nose), British slang for money. Used in English since the 1600s.

Cultural Context

Era: 1600s onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal